One year ago, the Miami Dolphins were criticized for allowing youthful free agents Olivier Vernon and Lamar Miller leave in free agency.

This year, most observers are celebrating the Dolphins’ decisions to re-sign young standouts Kenny Stills, Andre Branch and Reshad Jones to long-term contracts.

“Some of the decisions last year, where we lost a couple good players, allowed us to keep some of the players this year,” Dolphins executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum said in an interview on ESPN West Palm Radio (106.3).

Tannenbaum said owner Stephen Ross gives the team all needed resources. And he was pleased with the ability to get three big deals done so quickly.

“Those guys are either guys we wanted to extend before they became free agents or keep them when they have options,” Tannenbaum said. “Fortunately, it all worked out. Sometimes things don’t, because in free agency, you never know. But we were working hard behind the scenes for several weeks on those deals, and three of them just happened to get done, almost simultaneously.”

Tannenbaum specifically raised the ability of tight end Julius Thomas, acquired from Jacksonville for a late-round pick, in the red zone.

“Julius is a guy who has played in Adam’s offense before, very good pass receiver, good catch radius, should help in the red zone,” Tannenbaum said. “I think he’ll be an impactful player.”

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About the Authors

Jason Lieser has covered sports in Chicago, New Orleans and now South Florida

Joe Schad is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post who covers the Miami Dolphins. He previous covered sports for ESPN, the Orlando Sentinel and Newsday.

After 19 years as a sports writer, copy editor and assistant sports editor at The Miami Herald, Hal Habib joined The Palm Beach Post's sports department in 1998. Areas of coverage range from the Olympics, Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl to local sports.